St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-15
STATE KEFoRMAToRY.
Outline Of the System as Proposed in
Gordon e. Coles Bill.

The bill of Senator Wood, of Faribault,
to make the second state prison at St. Cloud
a reformat0ry was drawn up by Gordon E.
Cole, and no appropriation is included in it.
So far there is no appropriation for the
prison, only $4,000 having been appropri-
ated to meet the expenses of the commits
sion to locate it, The bill is in the hands
of both committees of the senate and house,
which, if the house concurs in the senate
resolution. will become the joint reforma-
scry committee. 1t embraces all the re-
formatory methods as discussed in the
meeting held at the state capitol, which
made Mr.. Cole the chairman of the COM
mittee to secure legislation in its favor. The
plan Is:
board of five managers, to be appointed
by the governor. shall conduct the institution
without compensation other than reimburse
ment for travelling expenses, and who are to
conduct ii 'On nOn-partiSau principles. The
members of the board are to be appointed for
one TWO, three. four and five years respec-
lively, so as to have q new member upon the
board every year. Then there is TO be gen
eral superintendent appointed by the board,
who is TO have charge OF the construction OF
the retormatory and the necessary shops and
school, and who will be the warden and gen
eral supervisor. His salary per annum and
that of the other officers is to be as follows:
Superintendent, 1890; physician, SI,500;
principal keeper. 81. 600; clerk, $1,000; chap
lain, $1,000; kitchen keeper, $500; store
keeper. $500: hail keeper, 5000; other keep
ers S5UG: guard, 500; sergeant of guard,
$500; teacher. $500. Any person who shall
be convicted of any ofense punishable by i'm
prisoumeut in the Institution, and any person
not over 80 years OF age nor under 10, who
has never been convicted of any offense be-
fore. are 10 be sent to the refOrmatOry. All
sentences are 10 be tndeterminate provided
the term of Imprisonment shall no. exceed
the maximum nor be shorter than the mini
mum penalty, as fixed by the penal code.
The indeterIunaue sentence VIII give the
board Of managers power to discharge the
prisoner according TO its discretion, when
ever II has reason 10 believe that the pris-
oner is reformed. Should the prisoner prove
ipcOrrigiDle or too refractory the managers
shall have power 70 transfer him to Stillwa-
ter. and they may also return him back, if it
is found that his conduct has improved at
Saltwater.
PAROL SYSTEM
Is 10 be established. by which the prisoner may
be let out upon parol. but in the custody of
some person selected in the outside world and
the board may appoint suitable persons
throughout the state TO take custody of paroI
prisoner. over whom. however, the control of
the managers does not cease, the duty of the
custodian being to prevent the prisoner from
committing crime again. and TO insure his
sClf-SuppOrt. 4 record is TO be kept by the
managers OF every detail connected with the
prisoners identity and his crime and his re
PROGRESSION or Improvement in congre SIS snail
lie recorded 10y system of marking. HIS
standing will be made known to him monthly,
and II the end OF every six months
the board will meet aud make
a summary of all the members for each
prisoner. The minimum term of imprison-
menI must be served by the prisoner before
he can be released. Suitable provision is TO
be made for his education and employment.
and the board is TO retain all control of his
labor, the system of contract labor to be pro-
hibited. Either by the allotment of piece
work or otherwise the prisoner is TO be en-
abled TO earn enough TO have money for his
own support upon his discharge. or for the
support of relutives or family dependent
upon him during his incarceration parol,
but he is not to receive over 80 per cent. of
his gross earnings. If he has no dependents
the total amount of money earned over the
so per cent. will be given to him upon his
discharge.